MUS Owls rally late to win second straight lacrosse state title

DiMento's fourth goal wins for MUS

MUS' Remy Rea gets a push from Brentwood's Kirk McConnell during the Owls' 12-11 victory in the championship match in the TSLA Tournament on Saturday in Nashville.

George Walker IV/The Tennessean

Lacrosse

MUS 12, Brentwood 11

NASHVILLE -- Pat DiMento's fourth goal of the championship game earned Memphis University School the Tennessee State Lacrosse Association crown Saturday, after Peyton Klawinski's fourth goal started the rally that made it all possible.

The Owls roared back from an 11-8 deficit with four goals in the final 3:03 to stun Brentwood High Lacrosse Club 12-11 and earn their second consecutive TSLA title.

"Our motto this year has been 'all in,' so we had everybody buy in that we weren't gonna throw in the towel yet," Klawinski said of the Owls' mood right before their comeback. "We still had plenty of time to bring it back."

DiMento's game-winner with 11.1 seconds left came on a high shot at the right post, off a perfect feed from Klawinski.

It was fitting that the crucial tying goal, with 1:15 remaining, came from senior James David Duke in his final Owls game.

"His lacrosse IQ, being able to pick that loose ball up and put in the net, is incredible," DiMento said.

"I couldn't have ended my career any better," Duke said. "Everybody was exhausted after the double-overtime game last night. We knew we had something to prove, and we just made it happen."

Coach Elliott Dent said, "this is probably one of the most difficult state championships we've had, with the two games we've had back to back."